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Interview with Emlyn Chand, Author of the Award Winning Book “Farsighted”
For those of you who recognize the book or the author – both are amazing – it might be because Emlyn has guest posted here and I have also reviewed her excellent YA novel, “Farsighted” (see links for details) which is, yes, now an award winner. But today, Emlyn so kindly joins us for an interiew, a mix between author and publicist questions. This post is a part of the equally awesome, Lightning Book Promotions Farsighted Blog Tour (not the Novel Publicity; that was last month), a new but emerging publicity service run by one of my loyal followers, Stormi Johnson, who has also interviewed here. (Ok, John, cool it with the hyperlinks, will you? 
I know you guys too well.) Without further ado, the interview:
Tell us about yourself.
I’m Emlyn, a 26-almost-27-year old YA author. I am also the president of Novel Publicity and a crazy bird lady too. And, oh yeah, I emerged from the womb with a fountain pen grasped firmly in my left hand (at least that’s what my Twitter bio says).
1. Farsighted’s release has been quite a success. What have you done to promote this release?
Marketing Farsighted has been a full-time job on top of a full-time job. I’ve definitely devoted a great deal of man power into my campaign, because I have no limits. I’ve spent an enormous amount of time and energy recruiting bloggers for my launch, and I have over 200, thank you 
I’m also hiring 6 other blog tour companies to tour my book over the next couple months—getting buzz early on is crucial! I’ve had a good amount of luck with GoodReads pay-per-click advertising and give-aways too. I’m also taking out advertising on targeted websites like Parajunkee.com and Night Owl, which cater to fans of my genre, and Kindle Nation Daily and The Frugal eReader, which cater to a mass of eBook lovers. I’ve even taken it off the web and created some Farsighted-themed swag. I’m most proud of my postcards. Readers can request an autographed postcard by filling out a simple form on my website. It’s a fun way to connect with readers that is memorable and only costs me less than 50 cents.
2. Of the above, what worked the best? What’s one thing you would’ve done differently?
Hmmm. I can’t pick just one. I’ve had great success with my blog tour and with GoodReads. I’ve blogged about the blog tour (that’s here), and I plan on writing some very detailed posts about how authors can use GoodReads effectively. The bottom line is that you should list your book on GoodReads as early as possible and use their pay-per-click advertising program to generate buzz for your book before its release. Once it’s out, switch to running giveaways. Don’t list one for a month either. Run them for just a couple of days, one after another. This rapid fire system really works!
3. What inspired Farsighted? How did the idea develop over time?
Everything started with a single image—my face in these tacky oversized sunglasses reflecting out at me from the car’s side mirror. I was daydreaming while my husband drove us across Michigan for my sister’s wedding. Something about my image really struck me in an almost horrific way. I felt the glasses made me look blind but found it so weird that there was still a clear image within them; it seemed so contradictory. At the time, my book club was reading The Odyssey, which features the blind Theban prophet, Tieresias. I started thinking about what it would be like to have non-visual visions of the future and began forming a modern Tieresias in my mind. Lo and behold, Alex Kosmitoras was born. I didn’t want him to be alone in his psychic subculture, so I found other characters with other powers to keep him company. Thank God for my poor fashion sense.
4. What inspired Alex’s character? How did you build his personality? From someone you know?
You know, it wasn’t as hard to write blind as I initially thought it would be. As I got to know Alex better and better, it became easier to tune into his way of seeing things. I read books about coping with blindness in a school setting and spent a great deal of time pondering how I might behave if I couldn’t see. In the story, Alex has always been blind; he’s always known the world to be a certain way. Not everyone understands that, and they have trouble talking about it with him. I gave Alex a tendency to overcompensate. He knows who he is and what he’s capable of, and he wants the world to know it too, so sometimes he overdoes things a bit.
5. You have an agent. Why did you choose self-publishing over commercial publishing?
I actually wrote a blog post about why I decided to self-publish (that’s here). Basically, the publishing industry is not only changing – it’s changed. I’m not really sure there is any benefit to being traditionally published anymore, especially if you’re an author who has the know-how and financial/time resources to A) professionally edit your books, B) get a stellar cover designed, and C) market your work. Another reason I’m all gaga for the self-pub world is because it’s what I preach through Novel Publicity. I spend all day trying to convince writers that the indie path can work for them. By choosing that route for myself, I am showing my belief in that statement; I am practicing what I preach. Yes, I have a literary agent and a condition of our contract was that I’d be allowed to self-publish Farsighted. I want the hands-on experience. I want the control. If this works out for me; I’m pretty sure I’ll stay indie forever!
6. What is your favorite thing about your books?
I truly believe that stories live or die with the characters who populate them. Plot is important. World-building is important. But a story without strong or relatable characters isn’t going to stay with readers in the same way. To that end, it was incredibly important for me to create characters who would feel real to the story, and they’re my favorite part of my books—how could they not be?! Readers have really identified with Alex and Shapri as feeling extremely authentic. Some people like Simmi too. 
7. You’re also a publicist. Do you think book trailers work? Why or why not?
That is the million dollar question, and it’s a tough one to answer. I think book trailers are like cover design. If you have one that is well-made and accurately represents your story it shows others that you’re professional about your work and have taken the time to present it clearly and effectively. However, unlike the cover, a book trailer is optional. Since fewer people will see it than the cover, a bad one can’t hurt you as much just as a good one can’t help you as much. Bottom line, it’s just too darn soon to tell.
8. What’s the best approach to promoting a new release?
First, write the best book YOU can write and don’t put it out there until it’s ready. Know your brand and how to communicate it to readers. Build some momentum before the official release. Oh, and put in a lot of man (or woman) hours engaging with readers on social media. It’s not going to be easy, but it will be worth it!
9. What do you see in the future for yourself as an author?
Well, obviously, I’ll be a best-selling author with a booming PR business. 
But in all seriousness, I see myself continuing to do what I love and hopefully finding an audience who loves what I do.
______________________________
Farsighted on:
Emlyn’s website is : http://www.emlynchand.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/emlynchand
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emlynchand
Be sure to follow the blog tour and check out all of these awesome bloggers!
Dec:
1st – Heather K @ Hezi-D’s Books and Cooks
2nd – John @ The Incessant Droning of a Bored Writer (YOU ARE HERE!)
2nd – Stephanie @ Our Family World
3rd – Amanda @ Letters Inside Out
4th – Alaiel @ Librarian Mouse
5th – Beverly @ The Wormhole
6th – Gina @ Behind a Billion and One Pages
7th – Wendy @ Minding Spot
8th – Cecillia @ Rather Barefoot Than Bookless
9th - Angel @ 909 Reviews
10th – Heather P @ Earth’s Book Nook
11th – Lisa @ The Ultimate Fan Blog
12th – Connie @ Character Connection (interview only)
13th – Andrea @ Dark Readers
14th – Deina @ Pages Hidden In Time
15th – Jen @ A Book and a Latte
Why Being A Self-Published Author Is Kind of Being Like A Salem Witch
I’m very excited to host Emyln Chand, author of “Farsighted”, for this guest post. As a preview, tomorrow I will be posting my review of “Farsighted” as a part of this HUGE blog tour. The release of “Farsighted” truly is a big deal in the world of indie writing. Why should you read tomorrow’s post? Well, here’s a reason. As a part of the tour, our oh-so-generous Emyln has promised to giveaway a $100 Amazon Gift Card to one lucky commenter of all the blogs chosen by http://random.org and to enter all you have to do is comment on tomorrow’s post! Cool, huh? And now for the guest post!
This is a guest post by Emlyn Chand, author of
Farsighted
Let’s face it – the publishing industry is changing. We can all pretty much agree on that, right?
What we’ve got on our hands is an oncoming era of enlightenment (I prefer that to the often-touted “revolution”). ‘T wasn’t long ago that being a self-published author was practically as shocking and horrific as being a witch in Salem, Massachusetts circa 1700.
“What damnation have you wrought upon yourself? Upon us all?” The traditional pub villagers would cry as they rushed for their pitch
forks and torches. “Be gone with you, unnatural creatures!”
And those unkind words were enough to send us packing. They didn’t have to chase us out of the village, for we never had any real magic, we were never any real threat.
Until…
We opened our eyes. We saw the true powers we possessed, and we saw the villagers for what they lacked.
We are able to manipulate our circumstances. We have more control than any who’ve gone before us. Self-publishing truly is magic.
But we can’t just walk around all blasé, showing off our green skin and harry warts while levitating our way through the park. That would be a mistake. We need to put on a little bit of concealer and keep our feet on the ground. We wouldn’t want to scare them away.
Similarly, a self-published or indie author needs to put on a bit of a show. We need to know when to conform to the “village” way of life
and when to do our own damn thang. If we can get them to come in for a closer look, they might understand our allure. Then they’ll stop being so afraid.
Our make-up isn’t Maybelline to cover that green skin (I ♥ you, Elphaba). No. We apply our foundation by writing a truly fetching and well-edited manuscript. We dab on the blush when we take the time and expense needed to don an attractive book cover. Our lipstick is a professional, personal, and functional web presence.
Don’t we look pretty? We do, I tell you. And we’re all the more beautiful for knowing that we possess something so much deeper within:
creativity, stick-to-it-ness, bravery, and of course – magic.
If you really examine the state of the publishing industry, it’s not the traditional house execs that populate the villages. Oh, they’re definitely the mayors, the cryers, and a few other choice townspeople. But if you want to see who lives in the village, go and knock on a few doors.
It’s the readers, bibliophiles, book addicts. They’re the ones who built this town. The mayor would have no village to govern if ‘tweren’t for them.
And thank God for it!
We arrived on their doorsteps – beaten, bloody, in need of a hot meal and a bit of rest. They may have been put off by our bedraggled
appearance, but they ultimately let us in and showed us the true nature of their hospitality.
I kind of like this town; I think I’ll move in
Blog Tour
Notes
THE BOOK: Alex
Kosmitoras may be blind, but he can still “see” things others can’t.
When his unwanted visions of the future begin to suggest that the girl he likes
could be in danger, he has no choice but to take on destiny and demand it
reconsider. Get your copy today by visiting Amazon.com’s Kindle store or the eBook
retailer of your choice. The paperback edition will be available on November 24
(for the author’s birthday).
THE CASH PRIZES:
Guess what? You could win a $100 Amazon gift card as part of this special blog
tour. That’s right! Just leave a comment below saying something about the post
you just read, and you’ll be entered into the raffle. I could win $100 too!
Please help by voting for my blog in the traffic-breaker poll. To cast your
vote, visit the official Farsighted
blog tour page and scroll all the way to the bottom. Thank you for
your help with that.
THE GIVEAWAYS: Win 1
of 10 autographed copies of Farsighted before its
paperback release by entering the giveaway on GoodReads. Perhaps you’d
like an autographed postcard from the author;
you can request one on her site.
THE AUTHOR: Emlyn
Chand has always loved to hear and tell stories, having emerged from the womb
with a fountain pen grasped firmly in her left hand (true story). When she’s
not writing, she runs a large book club in Ann Arbor and is the president of
author PR firm, Novel Publicity. Emlyn loves to connect with readers and is
available throughout the social media interweb. Visit www.emlynchand.com for more info. Don’t
forget to say “hi” to her sun conure Ducky!
MORE FUN: There’s more fun below.
Watch the live action Farsighted book trailer and take the quiz to find out
which character is most like you!
